High-Energy Head Injuries

High-energy injury

High-energy injuries to the head occur when the head hits against another object with great force or pressure. This type of injury puts a person at increased risk for a brain injury, even when there is no visible external bleeding or other obvious sign of injury.

High-energy injuries to the head can occur in a variety of ways, including:

Falls in which the head strikes an object with significant force. A fall from a height of 4 ft (1.2 m) may be enough to cause an injury.

Motor vehicle accidents in which the head strikes and cracks or breaks the windshield or dents the inside of the vehicle.

Sports injuries, such as striking the head after falling from a fast-moving bicycle.

Direct blows to the head with a hard object, such as a fist or a baseball bat swung with significant force.

Injuries to the neck or face are more likely to occur with a high-energy head injury.

By

Healthwise Staff

Primary Medical Reviewer

William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine

Specialist Medical Reviewer

H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

Last Revised

April 5, 2012

eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.